can't look in on one way eyes

Was she angry? Erik hoped it wasn't the case, though he held his breath. Watching carefully as her expression melted into something more familiar, her tail wagging at her haunches. Letting go of a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, Erik relaxes by degrees. "Rematch sometime?" A little mischief dancing in his gaze, brows lifting. The smile that plays on his face is genuine, a rarity. He'd be able to raid with them, soon enough. As soon as they were settled and sorted, and as soon as he could get the pack back up and moving. There's no telling exactly what it's become, as his father's been indisposed. Things he's not ready to share with the world yet, keeping them tucked close to his chest. Forgive him.

A little nod, they'd be able to sit and drink and just... be. It's not lost on Erik, he's savoring the last dregs of freedom as he makes his way north. There are more expectations for him there, head swirling with the unknown. Trying not to dwell on the things that worry him, fighting to let himself exist in the moment. The bottle of plum sake tucked carefully back and away, perhaps for fear that they'd be cut off by a real adult on the way in.

Ember's sudden stop leaves Erik stepping into her, a sheepish smile as he takes a step back. Not just for the summer, shaking his head with solemn finality. "Can't call th'bastard an heir, but 'e call him to step up'n the meantime." A humorless laugh rattles through his lungs, punctuated by a hard cough. Erik can taste blood on his lips. Pushing the bitterness back down as best he can, though he doesn't feel the need to mask it quite so hard around Ember.

Tossing his head, trying to shake some of the bad feelings away. Erik shifted a little closer to the girl, a sigh hanging heavily in his chest. "Enough'a my shit. 's been months, how're you?" Gaze careful on her face, hoping for some normalcy. Whatever normal princess business was, even if Erik didn't know exactly what normal was supposed to look like.

"Erik"